Conrad II, Duke of Swabia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conrad II |
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Conrad II, Duke of Swabia (miniature around 1200)
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| Duke of Swabia | |
| Reign | 20 January 1191 – 15 August 1196 |
| Predecessor | Frederick VI |
| Successor | Philip |
| Born | February/March 1172 |
| Died | (aged 24) Durlach |
| Spouse | |
| House | House of Hohenstaufen |
| Father | Frederick I Barbarossa |
| Mother | Beatrice I, Countess of Burgundy |
Conrad II (born February/March 1172 – died 15 August 1196) was an important duke in medieval Europe. He was the Duke of Rothenburg from 1188 to 1191. Later, he became the Duke of Swabia in 1191 and held that title until he died. Conrad was the fifth son of the famous Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa and Beatrice I, Countess of Burgundy.
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His Early Life and Titles
Conrad was given his name because an older brother, who was also called Conrad, had his name changed to Frederick. This freed up the name Conrad, which was a traditional name in their family, the Staufen dynasty.
His father, Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, gave Conrad control over lands in a region called Franconia. These lands had returned to the German crown after another duke, Frederick IV, Duke of Swabia, died. We know Conrad became a duke by 1188 because he was called dux de Rotenburch, which means Duke of Rothenburg. He also received other important lands like Weißenburg and Eger.
A Royal Engagement That Didn't Happen
In 1188, Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa and King Alfonso VIII of Castile signed a special agreement called the Treaty of Seligenstadt. This treaty arranged for Conrad to marry Berengaria. She was the oldest and only surviving child of the Castilian King, meaning she was expected to inherit the throne of Castile.
Conrad traveled to Castile, where his engagement to Berengaria was celebrated in July 1188. He was also made a knight there. The treaty made it clear that Berengaria would inherit the Castilian throne. Conrad would only be allowed to rule alongside her as her husband. Castile would not become part of the Holy Roman Empire, which was a large empire in Europe. Conrad also promised not to claim the throne for himself if King Alfonso VIII died. Instead, he would protect the kingdom until Berengaria could arrive.
However, the wedding never happened. Berengaria was still very young. Also, Conrad and Berengaria never met again after the engagement ceremony. Berengaria was supposed to come to Germany by Christmas 1190, but she didn't.
Pope Celestine III did not want the Staufen family to gain more power in the Iberian Kingdoms (Spain and Portugal). So, when Berengaria asked for the engagement to be canceled in 1191, the Pope quickly agreed. The engagement was officially broken in early 1192. One reason given was that Berengaria did not want to continue with the engagement.
Becoming Duke of Swabia
Conrad joined his older brother, Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor, on a journey to Rome. Henry VI was going to be crowned emperor on April 15, 1191. After the coronation, the army planned to invade the Kingdom of Sicily. But a serious illness, like malaria, spread in August 1191, and the campaign had to stop. Records show that Conrad was part of this important journey.
Conrad's older brother, Frederick VI, Duke of Swabia, died in January 1191 during the Third Crusade. When Henry VI returned from Italy, he gave the Duchy of Swabia to Conrad.
By May 1192, Conrad was officially called dux Suevie, meaning Duke of Swabia. From then on, he no longer used his old title of Duke of Rothenburg.
During Henry VI's military campaign in Italy in 1194–95, Conrad likely stayed in Germany. He acted as the King's representative in Swabia and Franconia during this time.
His Death
Conrad died at the young age of 24, on August 15, 1196. His early death meant he could not become emperor after his brother Henry VI, who died just a year later. Instead, his youngest surviving brother, Philip, became the next Duke of Swabia and later the next king from the Staufen family.
Conrad died in Durlach during a military campaign. He was buried at Lorch Abbey, which was a special burial place for the Staufen family. His great-grandfather, Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, had founded this abbey. In 1475, the remains of all the Staufen family members buried at Lorch were moved to a special tomb inside the Lorch Abbey church.
See also
- Dukes of Swabia family tree
